Spokane Fire Chief Bobby Williams to retire in January

The man who has served as Spokane's Fire Chief longer than anyone else in the department's history announced on Monday he will be retiring in 2017.

Chief Bobby Williams announced he will retire on January 22, 2017 after more than 28 years with the Spokane Fire Department.

“Chief Williams has spent the better part of his professional career making sure that the Spokane Fire Department answered the call when members of our community needed it most,” Spokane Mayor David Condon said in a press release sent out Monday morning. “He has advanced our ability to meet the unique needs of the people who require assistance, introduced greater efficiencies into the system, and improved the safety of our firefighters.”

Assistant Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer will serve as the interim chief while a national search is conducted for a permanent replacement.

“I’m honored to have served alongside the incredible men and women who are always there when someone calls for help,” Chief Williams said. “I am proud of the many accomplishments that have been achieved by our department in advancing outstanding service to Spokane and am so appreciative of the wonderful support we have received from the community during my watch. The fire department is in very good hands.”

Chief Williams has been with the department during some of Spokane's most notable incidents, including Ice Storm, Fire Storm and last year's Windstorm.

In December, Chief Williams will celebrate 50 years of commitment to the fire service and the communities that he has served. In addition to his role as fire chief, Williams has served as President of the Western Fire Chiefs Association, Chairman of the Board of the International Fire Code Institute, a member of the State Building Code Council and in leadership positions on numerous local boards.

“Anyone who has interacted with Chief Williams during his time with the Spokane Fire Department knows him as a kind, humble and dedicated public servant,” Condon said. “We will miss Chief Williams’ leadership and positive influence on the department and the Spokane Community.”

A man, claiming to be "the spawn of Lucifer," said he stabbed an eight-year-old boy because he "felt like he had to kill a child" and that it was "almost like a sacrifice." 30-year-old Bruce Derek Landahl was arrested Saturday for allegedly entering the HiCo store on Sprague, walking up to an eight-year-old boy playing on an iPad and stabbing him multiple times before the boy's father was able to stop him.

A man, claiming to be "the spawn of Lucifer," said he stabbed an eight-year-old boy because he "felt like he had to kill a child" and that it was "almost like a sacrifice." 30-year-old Bruce Derek Landahl was arrested Saturday for allegedly entering the HiCo store on Sprague, walking up to an eight-year-old boy playing on an iPad and stabbing him multiple times before the boy's father was able to stop him.

JBS USA has recalled nearly 100,000 pounds of ground beef due to concerns about possible e-coli contamination. The products have the establishment number Est.628 and were produced on October 24th. Products that were recalled were shipped to distributors in retail locations in California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

JBS USA has recalled nearly 100,000 pounds of ground beef due to concerns about possible e-coli contamination. The products have the establishment number Est.628 and were produced on October 24th. Products that were recalled were shipped to distributors in retail locations in California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

TRENTON, N.J. - An attorney for a woman charged with scamming GoFundMe donors with a story about a homeless veteran says she was duped by her former boyfriend. James Gerrow tells ABC's "Good Morning America" that Mark D'Amico was "calling the shots." Gerrow says Katelyn McClure thought she was helping Marine vet Johnny Bobbitt.

TRENTON, N.J. - An attorney for a woman charged with scamming GoFundMe donors with a story about a homeless veteran says she was duped by her former boyfriend. James Gerrow tells ABC's "Good Morning America" that Mark D'Amico was "calling the shots." Gerrow says Katelyn McClure thought she was helping Marine vet Johnny Bobbitt.

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. - A 30-year-old male is facing attempted murder charges after stabbing an eight-year-old boy at a HiCo store in Spokane Valley Saturday night. Around 4:30 p.m, Spokane Valley Deputies responded to a call of two males fighting along with the reported stabbing.

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. - A 30-year-old male is facing attempted murder charges after stabbing an eight-year-old boy at a HiCo store in Spokane Valley Saturday night. Around 4:30 p.m, Spokane Valley Deputies responded to a call of two males fighting along with the reported stabbing.

Several locals are trying to help the family of an eight-year-old boy, who was randomly stabbed at a gas station Saturday. Rayel Von Quade said she and three others (Salem Rose Sovereign, Quincey Brooks and Dani Loup) have been in touch with the Bush family. (KHQ has reached out to the family and have not heard back.) "They're, of course, very overwhelmed and stressed out right now and she's been dealing with a lot of messages from a lot of people coming through. But she says t...

Several locals are trying to help the family of an eight-year-old boy, who was randomly stabbed at a gas station Saturday. Rayel Von Quade said she and three others (Salem Rose Sovereign, Quincey Brooks and Dani Loup) have been in touch with the Bush family. (KHQ has reached out to the family and have not heard back.) "They're, of course, very overwhelmed and stressed out right now and she's been dealing with a lot of messages from a lot of people coming through. But she says t...

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho - Your actions have consequences. On December 30th, 2017, Jacob Leeder was killed by an alleged drunk driver on I-90. In honor of the Leeder family, law enforcement across Kootenai County will be in full force this holiday season to make sure another family doesn’t go through tragedy. Idaho State Police-District 1 says they will have a “no refusal weekend” beginning this weekend.

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho - Your actions have consequences. On December 30th, 2017, Jacob Leeder was killed by an alleged drunk driver on I-90. In honor of the Leeder family, law enforcement across Kootenai County will be in full force this holiday season to make sure another family doesn’t go through tragedy. Idaho State Police-District 1 says they will have a “no refusal weekend” beginning this weekend.

SPIRIT LAKE, Wash. - A Sagle man is facing charges for breaking into a Spirit Lake home Sunday night. Officers were called to a home on North 8th and Delaware Street at around 10:30pm. The homeowners told police that a man, dressed in a red shirt and light-colored sweatpants had broken into their home. One of the homeowners immediately sprayed the intruder with bear spray.

SPIRIT LAKE, Wash. - A Sagle man is facing charges for breaking into a Spirit Lake home Sunday night. Officers were called to a home on North 8th and Delaware Street at around 10:30pm. The homeowners told police that a man, dressed in a red shirt and light-colored sweatpants had broken into their home. One of the homeowners immediately sprayed the intruder with bear spray.

NEW YORK - The Rolling Stones will be rolling through the United States next year. The band says it's adding a 13-show leg to its No Filter tour in spring 2019 that will hit Florida, Texas, Arizona, California, Washington, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois and Washington, D.C. The tour kicks off in Miami on April 20. For the past few years the legendary band has mostly played in Europe.

NEW YORK - The Rolling Stones will be rolling through the United States next year. The band says it's adding a 13-show leg to its No Filter tour in spring 2019 that will hit Florida, Texas, Arizona, California, Washington, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois and Washington, D.C. The tour kicks off in Miami on April 20. For the past few years the legendary band has mostly played in Europe.

Several locals are trying to help the family of an eight-year-old boy, who was randomly stabbed at a gas station Saturday. Rayel Von Quade said she and three others (Salem Rose Sovereign, Quincey Brooks and Dani Loup) have been in touch with the Bush family. (KHQ has reached out to the family and have not heard back.) "They're, of course, very overwhelmed and stressed out right now and she's been dealing with a lot of messages from a lot of people coming through. But she says t...

Several locals are trying to help the family of an eight-year-old boy, who was randomly stabbed at a gas station Saturday. Rayel Von Quade said she and three others (Salem Rose Sovereign, Quincey Brooks and Dani Loup) have been in touch with the Bush family. (KHQ has reached out to the family and have not heard back.) "They're, of course, very overwhelmed and stressed out right now and she's been dealing with a lot of messages from a lot of people coming through. But she says t...

FLATHEAD COUNTY, Mont. - It's been roughly 18 months since a 26-year-old Spokane Valley man traveled to Montana for work, never to be seen again. The many loved ones of Corey Flannigan try to stay optimistic that one day, answers about what happened to him, will come. "I hate to call it a cold case after 18 months," said Flathead County Sheriff's Office Detective Rich Schuster.

FLATHEAD COUNTY, Mont. - It's been roughly 18 months since a 26-year-old Spokane Valley man traveled to Montana for work, never to be seen again. The many loved ones of Corey Flannigan try to stay optimistic that one day, answers about what happened to him, will come. "I hate to call it a cold case after 18 months," said Flathead County Sheriff's Office Detective Rich Schuster.

FORT WORTH, Texas - Police in the Fort Worth area say a 2-year-old girl died after a caregiver hit her with a belt and burned her buttocks for discipline. Police were called to an apartment in Arlington early Saturday because a child wasn't breathing. Aniyah Darnell was pronounced dead at a hospital. An autopsy will determine the cause of death.

FORT WORTH, Texas - Police in the Fort Worth area say a 2-year-old girl died after a caregiver hit her with a belt and burned her buttocks for discipline. Police were called to an apartment in Arlington early Saturday because a child wasn't breathing. Aniyah Darnell was pronounced dead at a hospital. An autopsy will determine the cause of death.

HAMBURG, Pa. - Family and friends are mourning a couple killed in a fiery chain-reaction crash while driving to their wedding in Pittsburgh. State police say 35-year-old Kathryn Schurtz and her fiance, Joseph Kearny, were driving on Interstate 78 on Wednesday when they encountered heavy traffic from an earlier crash.

HAMBURG, Pa. - Family and friends are mourning a couple killed in a fiery chain-reaction crash while driving to their wedding in Pittsburgh. State police say 35-year-old Kathryn Schurtz and her fiance, Joseph Kearny, were driving on Interstate 78 on Wednesday when they encountered heavy traffic from an earlier crash.

JBS USA has recalled nearly 100,000 pounds of ground beef due to concerns about possible e-coli contamination. The products have the establishment number Est.628 and were produced on October 24th. Products that were recalled were shipped to distributors in retail locations in California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

JBS USA has recalled nearly 100,000 pounds of ground beef due to concerns about possible e-coli contamination. The products have the establishment number Est.628 and were produced on October 24th. Products that were recalled were shipped to distributors in retail locations in California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

TRENTON, N.J. - An attorney for a woman charged with scamming GoFundMe donors with a story about a homeless veteran says she was duped by her former boyfriend. James Gerrow tells ABC's "Good Morning America" that Mark D'Amico was "calling the shots." Gerrow says Katelyn McClure thought she was helping Marine vet Johnny Bobbitt.

TRENTON, N.J. - An attorney for a woman charged with scamming GoFundMe donors with a story about a homeless veteran says she was duped by her former boyfriend. James Gerrow tells ABC's "Good Morning America" that Mark D'Amico was "calling the shots." Gerrow says Katelyn McClure thought she was helping Marine vet Johnny Bobbitt.

PORT ANGELES, Wash. - A magnitude 4.1 earthquake has shaken an area beneath Olympic National Park south of Port Angeles. The U.S. Geological Survey says the earthquake hit just after 3 a.m. Monday. There were no immediate reports of damage. According to the agency's website, people in the region reported feeling weak to light shaking.

PORT ANGELES, Wash. - A magnitude 4.1 earthquake has shaken an area beneath Olympic National Park south of Port Angeles. The U.S. Geological Survey says the earthquake hit just after 3 a.m. Monday. There were no immediate reports of damage. According to the agency's website, people in the region reported feeling weak to light shaking.